Although the exact number is unknown, there have been hundreds and thousands of innocent individuals who have not only been wrongfully arrested in the U.S. but have also been convicted of crimes they never committed. While some are fortunate enough to retain a criminal defense attorney who is dedicated to their case and manages to prove their innocence, others are left with a tainted criminal record and are forced to spend months or even years of their life behind bars. Did you know that as of October 16, 2016, “the National Registry of Exonerations listed 1,900 defendants who were convicted of crimes and later exonerated because they were innocent?” [Source: University of Michigan] And of those 1,900, “47% of them were African Americans?
Because we know that these wrongful arrests and convictions sometimes arise as a result of a police officer who abused their rights just to make an arrest or a judge who unknowingly convicted the wrong man or woman, it is important to understand what you can do in the event you or someone you know has been arrested for a crime you didn’t commit in Baton Rouge, LA. The fact is, no one wants to have to spend countless months or even years wasting away in a cell when they know they aren’t guilty of carrying out a crime they have been accused of. Unfortunately, it is often too difficult for a person to prove they are innocent on their own. Therefore, if you are the victim of a wrongful arrest, here are some things you should consider doing.
- The first thing you need to do in order to combat a wrongful arrest or conviction is to hire a Baton Rouge, LA criminal defense lawyer who is highly experienced and skilled in this particular field of law. The defense attorneys at Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf have over 30 years of combined experience and can gather any and all evidence necessary that can be used to help prove you are innocent. Sometimes, there are many pieces of evidence that are left untouched that could serve as your proof. However, without the right lawyer working on your side, this evidence could remain untouched leaving you having to serve a sentence for something you didn’t do.
- After you have contacted our office and retained an attorney, the next thing you might consider doing is file a lawsuit against the officers and/or the department who allowed the wrongful arrest to be made which then led to your conviction. The fact is, when an individual is arrested and convicted, they are forced to spend money on fines and fees associated with the crime and may even lose out on certain opportunities if they are jailed. A conviction, whether it is wrongful or not, can impact a person’s life in a multitude of ways and sometimes, there is no way to fix what has already been done. That is why many choose to take legal action against those who are guilty of wrongfully arresting and convicting you so that you can at least recover some compensation for all that you have been put through.
Now, if you would like to learn more about how our office can help you combat a wrongful arrest, give us a call to schedule an initial consultation. Whether you are the person who is facing the penalties for a crime you didn’t commit, or you are looking to retain legal aid for someone who has been faced with these unfortunate circumstances, our attorneys are here to help you.
You can reach Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf at:
3960 Government Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-343-2205
